Myles Sanderson, suspect in Saskatchewan stabbing rampage, dies after arrest

Myles Sanderson, the suspect in a deadly stabbing rampage that killed 10 people in Saskatchewan, died in hospital after being arrested by the RCMP on Wednesday.

The RCMP announced on Wednesday that Sanderson was taken into custody after responding to a report of a man armed with a knife and driving a stolen car near Wakaw, northeast of Saskatoon.

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore says officers were called for reports of a break and enter that involved Sanderson, who stole an SUV.

Blackmore says police were notified and tracked down the unmarked vehicle on the highway. After forcing the SUV into a ditch, officers identified the driver as Sanderson and took him into custody.

Sanderson went into medical distress a short time later and was rushed to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Blackmore says the RCMP has requested an independent investigation into the circumstances of Sanderson’s death. She gave no details on the cause of death.

“I can’t speak to the specific manner of death,” she said.

An official familiar with the matter said officers rammed Sanderson’s vehicle off the road. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier said Sanderson died of self-inflicted injuries, without giving any further details.

Video and photos from the scene showed a white SUV off to the side of the road with police cars all around. Airbags had been deployed in the SUV.

Police and investigators are seen at the side of the road outside Rosthern, Sask., on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Malone

Sanderson was wanted on charges, including first-degree murder, after a series of attacks that left 10 people dead and 18 injured on Sunday.

The discovery of Sanderson came shortly after a notice went out over Saskatchewan’s emergency alert system warning of a person armed with a knife and driving a white Chevrolet Avalanche that had been reported stolen in Wakaw.

RCMP thanked the public for providing pertinent information about potential sightings of the suspect.

Myles Sanderson’s death comes two days after the body of his brother, 30-year-old Damien Sanderson, was found in a field near the scene of their rampage, which also wounded 18 people.

Police are investigating whether Myles Sanderson killed his brother.

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RCMP reported a possible sighting of Myles on the James Smith Cree Nation but later determined it had not been him.

Those who were killed range in age from 23 to 78 and have been identified as Thomas Burns, Carol Burns, Gregory Burns, Lydia Gloria Burns, Bonnie Burns, Earl Burns, Lana Head, Christian Head, and Robert Sanderson of James Smith Cree Nation and Wesley Petterson of Weldon.

The stabbing rampage raised questions about why Myles Sanderson — an ex-con with 59 convictions and a long history of shocking violence — was out on the streets in the first place.

He was released by a parole board in February while serving a sentence of over four years on charges that included assault and robbery. But he had been wanted by police since May, apparently for violating the terms of his release, though the details were not immediately clear.

With files from Rob Gillies of The Associated Press